Minnesota · DNR survey data

Bella Lake

Bella Lake covers 180 acres in Nobles County, running to 14 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2023. The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for this lake, so there is no depth map here, just the survey record: what the nets held and how big it ran.

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DNR survey data

Fish species

Species
How many
Survey numbers
Lengths
WalleyeStocked · 2023
Fair numbers
3.7per gill net
15"Typical
24"Biggest
8"24"

Lengths measured · 16 fish

Recent surveys
3"5"10"15"20"24"

Lengths measured · 16 fish

2017
3"5"10"15"20"24"

Lengths measured · 18 fish

2011
3"5"10"15"20"24"

Lengths measured · 35 fish

2000
3"5"10"15"20"24"

Lengths measured · 3 fish

1994
3"5"10"15"20"24"

Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Northern pikeStocked · 2025
Just a few
1.3per gill net
16"Typical
32"Biggest
12"32"

Lengths measured · 24 fish

Recent surveys
12"15"20"25"30"32"

Lengths measured · 24 fish

2017
12"15"20"25"30"32"

Lengths measured · 8 fish

2011
12"15"20"25"30"32"

Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Lengths measured · 1 fish

2000
12"15"20"25"30"32"

Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Lengths measured · 8 fish

1994
12"15"20"25"30"32"

Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Bluegill
Just a few
0.6per trap net
Typical
5"Biggest
Crappie
Just a few
8.4per trap net
8"Typical
12"Biggest
4"12"

Lengths measured · 78 fish

Recent surveys
3"4"6"8"10"12"13"

Lengths measured · 78 fish

2017
3"4"6"8"10"12"13"

Lengths measured · 83 fish

2011
3"4"6"8"10"12"13"

Lengths measured · 469 fish

2000
3"4"6"8"10"12"13"

Lengths measured · 1 fish

1994
3"4"6"8"10"12"13"

Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Yellow perchStocked · 2018
Just a few
0.3per gill net
Typical
8"Biggest
Channel catfish
Excellent numbers
8.3per gill net
9"Typical
22"Biggest
7"22"

Lengths measured · 26 fish

Recent surveys
7"10"15"20"22"

Lengths measured · 26 fish

2017
7"10"15"20"22"

Lengths measured · 3 fish

2000
7"10"15"20"22"

Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear — which is why the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, the page shows presence and size only. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey. You can read every number on this page without an app or an account.

DNR stocking records

Stocking history

YearSpeciesStocked
2025Northern Pike372 fingerlings
2023Walleye180,000 fry
2022Walleye4,776 fingerlings
2019Walleye2,209 fingerlings · 30 yearlings
2018Yellow Perch2,873 adults
2016Walleye420 fingerlings · 104 yearlings

Recent reports

Bella Lake fishing reports

Recent reports on Bella Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.

Open the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report

Nobles County reports

Public water access

Getting on the water

Within 30 miles

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is there a depth map for Bella Lake?

The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for Bella Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.

What fish are in Bella Lake?

The most recent DNR survey (2023) recorded walleye, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.

Does Bella Lake have a public access?

Yes. Bella Lake has one public access site: Bella Lake (trailer launch).

Is Bella Lake stocked?

Yes. The DNR stocked northern pike in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.

When was Bella Lake last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Bella Lake in 2023, the most recent of 5 surveys on record.

Survey numbers are the Minnesota DNR's. How this site reads them →

Page updated .